Lubricating system for motor vehicles



32, 1929. A. a. MENGES LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR MOTORVEHICLES Filed July 6. 192.0 2 sheem sneet 1 Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES PA-TENT' OFFICE ALBERT C. MENGES, OF GREENVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPO- RATION or' DELAWARE LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Application filed July 6,

constantly with a lubricant through: the me* dium of the regular force pump oiling system of the conventional type used on various motor vehicles, it .being also possible, by

means of this improvement, to properly lu-- bricate the chassis parts without the use of a force pump oiling system and by utilizing solely a gravity feed.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

i In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a vehicle and showing the various parts of the lubricating system assembled.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the corresponding parts.

- Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the means employed for lubricating the bearings of the links or shackles used at one end of a spring.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of a vehicle frame, one of the shackles thereon and a portion of a spring.

Figure 5 s a plan view of the structure 7 shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the bearings and a portion of the radius rod journaled thereon.

Figure 7 is an end view thereof. Figure 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of spring connection.

Figure 9 is an end *view thereof, thev adja- -the flow of 1920. Serial No. 394,027.

cent portion of the section.

Figure 10 is a section through the wick duct and showing the adjusting means therefor.

Figure 11 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a portion of a slightly modified form of system utilizing a gravity feed.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference A sis or'frame of a motor vehicle on'which is mounted a motor B providedwith the usual crank case G constituting an oil reservoir. The force pump used for elevating oil from the crank case to the various parts of the motor has not been shown but the oil used for this purpose is directed by through a pipe 1 having a right angle extension 2 which extends through thedash D of the vehicle and to the lower end of a glass tube or gage 3 carried by the dash. A valve 4 is provided in the pipe 2 for controlling upper end of the gage glass communicates through a pipe 5 with a small casing 6 in the lower portion of which isarranged an absorbent material indicated at 7 (Figure 10) and which acts as a wick; A screw 8 is adjustably mounted in the upper portion of the casing 6 and has a perforated head 9 at its lower end which bears sorbent material 7 in the lower part of the casing. A handle 10 is provided at the upper end. of the screw and head can be adjusted to vary the pressure on the absorbent material and thereby control its efiiciency as an absorbent medium.

Pipes 11 extend from the bottom portion of the casing 6 to distributin pipes 12 extending along the sides of the rame' or chassis A to points adjacent the various'spring and torque or radius rod bearings.

For example where abracket is secured to the frame as shown at 13 (Figures 2 and 3) there is provided a connecting or pivot bolt 14 on which is mounted a link or shackle 15 which, in turn,-is connected by a bolt 16to one end of the spring17. Each of these bolts has an oil duct 18 therein provided with outlet openings whereby oil admitted to the duct frame being shown in designates a portion of the chast Pu p upon the mass of ab-' lubricant to the gage glass 3. The

by means thereof the is free to come into contact with the bearing surfaces of the spring, link andbracket. A

pocket 19 is formed in the link between the ends thereof and contains an absorbent and -porous material 20; Oil passages 21 extend longitudinally of the link at the ends of this pocket and communicate with the ducts inside ofthe bolts. Another duct'opens through the frame A, as shown at 22 and into the passage in which the upper bolt 14 is located.- This passage 22 communicates with the dis tributing pipe 12 through a branch pipe 23.

In the foregoing construction theporous material at the delivery end of the lubricant supply pipethat is, adjacent the shackles is shown between two points to be lubricated; so that the lubricant from the supply line 12 y will flow to the upper bolt bearing of the proper and sufficient'arrangement when the,

I duit is quite low,

shackle,- then to the porous material 20, and then to the lower bolt bearing. This is a pressure of the lubricant in the supply conas, when it is supplied by gravity from an elevated container, as well also as when the parts are closely fit-ted so that leakage is not likely to occur at the bearing not having the porous material associated comes from the lubricating with it. When, however, the lubricant is supplied under considerable pressure as when it i system of the engine which drives the vehicle or from some other source of high pressure, or when the bearings are less carefully fitted as is more frequently the case, such porous material should be arranged immediately adjacent and ahead of each bearing to be lubricated, as is r the case at the rear ends of the frame members and rear springs in the embodiment of 7 my inventionillustrated. In such an arrangement the supply of lubricant to each bearing Wlll be restrained to a degree by the porous material through whichit flows, and

doverfiow or leakage. of lubricant at the bearings which are lubricated, will be prevented. Separate and distinct masses of porousmaterial may, however, be arranged adjacent each bearing even when the pressure of the lubricant supply iscomparatively low; and

as a matter of fact'better results will thereby ed on the bolt.

ordinarily be secured, especially after the vehicle has been used for a time and the joints to be lubricated have become somewhat worn.

With the foregoing explanation, I have.

- .12 as is clearlylindicated in'fFigures a and 5.

tributing .pipe12.

A spring connection of difierent type is shown in Figures 8 and 9 where springs 37 at opposite sides of a frame bar of the chassis are supported at one end by bracket 80, shackles 32 and 33 being connected at opposite endsvto the springs and the bolt. A duct 34 is extended-longitudinally within the bolt 31 and hasoutlets opening into the shackles and into the bracket 30, there being an additional duct 35 within the bracket and extending from, a'branch pipe 36 carried by the distributing pipe 12. The springs 37 are attached to pivot bolts 38 mounted in the shackles and each of these pivot bolts has a longitudinal duct'39 opening to the outer surface of the bolts. The ducts 39 and 34 in the bolts 38and 31 respectively are connected .by pipes'etO. A pocket 41 is formed in the upper portion of each shackle and contains an absorbent-material indicated-at 42 and a duct 13 extends upwardly to this pocket from the adjacent duct 39. Thus it will be seen. that when a lubricant is directed into the various ducts from the distributing pipes 12, a portion thereof will be absorbed by the material 42 in each shackle and will subsequently be supplied from this absorbent material clownwardly through the duct 43 to the various bearings. In other words the absorbent material in the pocket provides a surplus supply of lubricant. I

The bearing Hprovided for the radius rod 45 (Figures 6 and 7) has the usual bolt 46 extending from the radius rod and provided with a duct 17. This duct communicates through a passage 48 with a pocket -19 containing an absorbent material indicated-at 50 in Figure 7. A branch pipe 51 extends to this pocket from the distributing pipe 12.

It is to be understood that similar arrangements of absorbentcontaining pockets hav ing ducts leading therefrom to bearings, can be provided wherever necessary, all of the pockets being in communication with the dis- Thus it will be obvious that when the motor is in operation the force pump will not only lubricate the parts of the motor but a portion of the elevated lubricant will be forced through the gage glass 3 and 'into the casing 6 from which it will flow downwardly through the perforated head 9 and be absorbed by the material 7, Surplus lubricant thus absorbed will travel through the branch pipe 11 to the distributing pipe 12 and thence to the various wicks or absorbent materials located at the different bearings from which the lubricant will be directed to the wearing surfaces of the bearings, in the manner hereinbefore pointed'out. By adjusting the heads 9 so as to increase or reduce the compression of the material 7, the efii cieucv of said material as an absorbent medium can be controlled.

lVhereno forcepump is provided for lulnrieating and it becomes necessary todepend above the level of the partsto be lubricated,

' as shovvn in Figure 11. The casingfi52 contains an absorbent material 54 extending to a desired level therein and an outlet pipe 54! having a valve 55 extends from the bottom of the casing to the distributing pipe. 'An overflow tube or chamber 56 is extended above the absorbent-material and is in communication With'the interior of the crank case by means of a pipe 56' so that when lubricant is poured into the casing 52 and cannot all be absorbed. by the material 5d, the surplus can overflow into the tube or' chamber 56 and enter the crank case C.

In view of the premises it will be appreciated that in the lubricating system wherein my invention consists the flow of lubricant to the several bearings (which is along a conduit which is always open) which would otherwise drip continuously from the bearings, is held back and restrained, and its flow regulated to a degree, by the masses of absorbent material at the several bearings and through which the lubricant flows. The supply oflubricant is always under some pressure and When, as in the preferred form of my invention, the lubricant is derived from the pressure lubricating system of the engine, it is under a comparatively high pressure. In that case and as hereinbefore appears it is desirable that the pressure of the lubricant be means for establishin reduced and regulated by causing it to flow through the casing 6 and the porous material under pressure therein, before it flows into the distributing system of conduits leading to the various'chassis hearings to be lubricated.

What is claimed is:

1. A lubricating system for motor vehicles and the like including a supply casing, an absorbent therein, a distributing pipe in communication with said casing, cooperating bearing members, one of said members comprising a bolt having a duct therein, there being lubricant outlets extending from the duct to the surface of the bolt, a pocket within one of the bearingmembers, an absorbent. therein, means for establishing communication betweenthe distributing pipe'and the duct in thebolt, and means for establishingcommunication'between the pocket and duct. V

2. In a lubrca-ting system for motor vehicles the combination with a distributing pipe, of cooperating bearing members, one of said members being in the form of a bolt havingaduct therein, there being an outlet extending from the duct through the bearing surface of the bolt, a pocket in one of the bearing. members, an absorbent in the pocket,

communication between said duct in the olt and the distributing pipe, means for establishing communication betweenthe pocket and the duct in the bearing bolt, a lubricant casing in communibearing members, an absorbent in the pocket,

means for establishing communication between said duct in the bolt and the distributing pipe, means for establishing communication between the pocket and the duct in the bearing bolt, a lubricant casing in communication with the distributing pipe, an absorbent materal therein, and means for directing lubricant into the casing to saturate the absorbent material, and adjustable means for placing the absorbentmaterial under differ 'ent degrees of compression to vary its efiiciency as an absorbent medium.

4. In a lubricating system for motor vehicle's the combination With a distributing pipe, of cooperating bearing members, one of.

said'members being in the form of a bolt having aiduct'therein, there being an outlet extending from the duct through the bearing surface of the bolt, a pocket in one of the bearing members, an absorbent in the pocket,

means for establishing communication between said duct in the bolt and the distributing pipe, m'eans for establishing communication between the pocket and the duct in the bearing bolt, a lubricant casing in communication ith the distributing'pipe, an absorbent material therein, means for directing lubricant into the casing to saturate the absorbent material, an apertured head adjustably mounted in the casing, to place the absorbent material under desired compression, and an indicator connected to the casing.

5. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles, a casing, and means for supplying a lubricant thereto under pressure; conduits leading from said casing to various bearings to be lubricated disposed about the chassis of the vehicle; and masses of absorbent material located at said bearings and filling the conduits and through which the lubricant flows to the bearings.

6. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles, a casing, and means for supplying a lubricant thereto under pressure; conduits leading from said casing to various bearings disposed about the chassisof the vehicle; a mass of absorbent material Within said casing, and through which the lubricant flows on its Way to said .conduits; and masses of absorbent material located at said bearings, and acting at all times to retard the flow of lubricant through said conduits and to said bearings:

- casing to thereby 7. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles, a casing, and means for supplying a lubricant thereto under pressure; conduits leading from said casing to various bearings disposed about thechassis of the vehicle; a mass of absorbent material within said casing, and through which the lubricant flows on its way to said'conduits; masses of absorbent material located at said bearings and acting at all times to retard the flow of lubricant to said bearings; and means for compressing the mass of absorbent material within said control the flow of lubricant therethrough. Y i

8. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles, a casing, and means for supplying a lubricant thereto under pressure; conduits leading from said casing to various bearings disposed about the chassis of the vehicle; a mass of absorbent material within said casing, and through which the lubricant flows on its way to said conduits; and means for com pressing the mass'of absorbent material within said casing to thereby control the flow of lubricant therethro ugh.

9'. Ina lubricating system for motor driven I vehicles, a casing, and means for supplying a lubricant thereto under pressure; conduits leading from said casing to a plurality of bearings disposed about the chassis of the vehicle; and masses of absorbent material locat-ed at saidbearings and completely filling the conduits, and through which lubricant flows to the bearings.

10. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles, a casing, and means forsup- I plying a lubricant thereto under pressure; a conduit leading from said casing to a plurality of bearings disposed about the chassis of thevehicle; amass of absorbent material within said casing, V lubricant flows on'its way to said conduit; means for compressing said absorbent material to thereby control the flow ofllubricant therethrough;'and masses of absorbent mate rial located at and acting at all times to retard the flow of lubricant to said bearings.

11. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles and in combination with an engine having a crankcase wherein there is a quantity of lubricant, a casing; a conduit leading into saidcasing and through which lubricant derived from said crankcase is sup-- plied thereinto under pressure; conduits lead ingfrom said casing to various bearings disposed aboutthe chassis of the vehicle; andmasses of absorbent material located at said bearings, and acting at all times to retard the flow of lubricant through said conduits and to said bearings. p

12. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles and in combination with an engine having a crankcase wherein there is a quantity of lubricant, and with a plurality of chassis bearings to belubricated, a casing;

and through which the a conduit leading into said casing and through which lubricant derived from said cranckcase is supplied thereinto under pressure; amass of absorbent material within said casing, and

through which the lubricant flows therefrom;

' meansfor compressing said absorbent mate located adjacent said bearings and acting at all times to restrain the flow of said bearings. i I

14. In a lubricating system, for motor driven vehicles, a casing adapted to contain a lubricant; a conduit leading from said casing to a chassis bearing to be lubricated; a mass of absorbent material located at said bearing and completely filling said conduit, and through which the lubricant flows to said bearing;v and a valve forcontrolling the flow of lubricant through said conduit.

15. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles and in combination with an engine having a crankcase wherein there is a quantity of lubricant,a conduit leading from said crankcase toand through which lubricant is supplied'to a chassis bearing to be lubricated; a mass of absorbent material lo cated at said bearing and completely filling said conduit, and through which the lubricant flows to said bearing; and a valve'for lubricant to controllingthe flow of lubricantthrough said driven vehicles, a casing adapted to contain a lubricant; conduits leading from'said casing to'various bearings to be lubricated disposed about the chassis of the vehicle;'an d masses of absorbent material located at said bearings and completely filling the conduits leading to them, so that lubricant can arrive at said bearings only by flowing through the mass (if absorbent material associated .with each of them.

l8.- In a lubricating system for motor which the lubricant flows on its Way to said conduits; and masses of absorbent material located at said bearings and completely filling the conduits leading to them, so that lubricant can arrive at said bearings only by flowing through the mass of absorbent material associated With each of them.

19. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles, a casing adapted to contain a lubricant; conduits leading from said casing to various bearings disposed about the chassis of the vehicle; a mass of absorbent material Within said casing and through which the lubricant flows on its Way to said conduits; masses of absorbent material located at said bearings and completely filling said conduits, and'acting to restrain the flow of lubricant to said bearings; and means for compressing the mass of absorbent material within said casing.

. 20. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles, a casing adapted to contain a lubricant; conduits leading from said casing to various bearings disposed about the chassis of the vehicle; a mass of absorbent material Within said casing and through which the lubricant flows on its way to said conduit; and means for compressing the mass ofabsorbent material within said casing to thereby control the flow of lubricant therethrough. I

21. In a lubricating system for motor driven vehicles, a casing adapted to contain a lubricant; a conduit leadin from said casing to a chassis bearing to be lubricated; and a mass of absorbent material located at said bearing and completely filling said conduit, andthrough which the lubricant flows to the bearing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

ALBERT C. MENGES. 

